A man and a woman, aged 32 and 29, were arrested in Cardedeu, Vallès Oriental, on 5 May for allegedly using fake €50 notes in commercial transactions. The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's police force, said the two had around 20 previous police records.
The investigation, led by the Criminal Investigation Division's (DIC) Currency Counterfeiting specialists, started in mid-March 2026. This followed an increase in reports of payments made with fake €50 notes across several metropolitan areas, including L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, and Mataró. Analysis of the complaints showed that many victims were lottery vendors.
Cooperation from both lottery vendors and other affected shopkeepers was key in identifying the suspects. Investigators determined that a man and a woman were responsible, often using a nine-month-old baby to distract victims and gain their trust. The suspects operated daily in different municipalities, following a consistent pattern: they would buy a scratch card worth one, two, or five euros, check if it was a winner on the spot, and then receive genuine change. In some instances, they passed two fake notes to the same victim on the same day.
Overcoming Investigation Challenges
Investigators faced difficulties because victims often struggled to provide clear physical descriptions of the culprits. Many victims also did not realise they had received a fake note until depositing their daily takings at the bank, where the counterfeit currency was detected. To overcome these hurdles, officers created a criminal map, plotting the dates, times, and locations of the incidents. This allowed them to trace the suspects' movements and identify them.
Once identified, officers located the suspects' home. Barcelona's Court of Instruction No. 13 authorised a search warrant. During the police operation on 5 May, Mossos d'Esquadra officers raided the Cardedeu residence, arresting the man and woman. They seized 56 fake banknotes, three mobile devices, and various stolen documents. Both suspects appeared before a judge on 7 May.
High-Quality Counterfeits
The fake notes were of very good quality, imitating the tactile marks found on legitimate euro banknotes. This quality made it hard for victims to spot the fakes, leading to many affected businesses, including 46 lottery vendors. The counterfeit €50 notes were reproductions of the new Europa series, which are particularly difficult to detect unless examined closely. On authentic notes, the green-printed facial value on the lower left of the front changes colour and produces a shimmering effect when moved. The fake notes, however, do not show this characteristic chromatic shift.
According to the Mossos d'Esquadra, the fake notes were obtained from the black market and manufactured in southern Italy. The police force reminds the public to check the security features of banknotes and report any suspected counterfeits through official police channels.
